RESIDENTS were left angry after finding memorial plaques removed from benches along the beachfront only to find out later they had been leased and come to the end of their term.

A spokesperson for Bournemouth Borough Council said: "There is a scheme in place where people pay for their plaques to be on the benches for 10 years and the current scheme for a lot of the benches has recently come to an end.

"At the moment, the new scheme is coming into place and there should be new plaques mounted when people apply for them."

The benches were seen between Portman Ravine and Fisherman’s Walk, at Boscombe.

"The plaques are bought for a 10-year period and then in affect [residents] lease the bench that the plaque is put onto," the spokesperson added.

"The council then take care of the maintenance and after 10 years, the family members are asked if they would like to renew the lease. The same procedure is used for seafront, parks and highways."

A spokesperson for Christchurch Borough Council said they had the same arrangement in place, while in Poole, their representative said plaque leases are currently under review.